UKC

Hello all,

I've owned a couple of salomon running vests/packs over the years and they've always had two problems. First, the zips on them seize up with a blue, limescale-like, substance and are rendered unusable. Second, the packs themselves start to develop little flecks of white mould. I acknowledge that these issues might be more of a problem with me and how I treat these packs than with the packs themselves. Nonetheless, I treat them in much the same way I treat other rucksacks and my other rucksacks are fine and have been going strong in some cases for over a decade.

At present, I'm in the market for a new running vest, and I wanted to ask a couple of things.

1. Does anyone else have these problems? If yes, how have you combatted them?
2. Is this an issue specifically with Salomon race vests/packs? How do other brands fare?  

Thanks!

Is it definitely mould and not salt? Salt washes out easily.

Given that it smells pretty foosty, I'm inclined to believe that it's mould. I have washed the packs from time to time, but often I've found that that can exacerbate things. I have to ensure that they are completely dry before putting them back into storage. If I don't next time I reach for them, the mould issue is even worse!

No, I don't have these problems

Yup, I have, but I've often found that it can make things worse. Especially if there's even a tiny bit of moisture still in them when I store them. If there is, next time I reach for them, the mould issue is even worse!

I have a Salomon hip belt which is made to the same kind of design as their vests. No marks on the fabric but one of the zips seized up completely within a year or two of owning it. I know someone else who had the same zip problem as well. Neither of the items had a hard life. I don't buy Salomon any more. Which is a shame because the design of the hip belt was otherwise fantastic.

Apparently rubbing a bar of soap across the zipper can help lubricate it. Worth a shot 

I've had an S-Lab vest for over 10 years, with admittedly light usage.  No issues with it at all.  And our old Victorian house doesn't have the best ventilation.

Have you asked Salomon this?  

If you store anything when damp, you are going to get mildew. 

For very close-fitting running items that are going to get sweaty, salt and body oils will exacerbate the problem, encouraging mould and corrosion (the blue stuff is a copper salt from corrosion). Keep things clean and dry. Lubricate zips with a bit of candle or silicone wax.

I don't own any Salomon packs; no skin in this game.

I've got one of the Raid light vests, the smallest one. They are a fraction of the price of the salomon ones, and been really pleased with it. 

A little bit of hair clipper oil or olive oil on the zips sorts mine

Hi, I've got an Ultimate Direction pack. I've had it for approx. 7 years, over 5k miles. The zips definitely get seized due to salt from sweat, but as others have suggested, a bit of oil or soap frees them up. Regular opening and closing as well. Not had any mould at all. I have done the odd running repair on the pack and it is still going strong. 

Wash the vest you grotbag, it isn't a rucksack.

Thereafter, Vaseline is good for zips.